While we chatter on line or on the phone to our friends, do our pets feel left out?! Toffee our labrador always comes and nudges my hands off the keyboard with her nose, and does the same if I sit down and play the piano! To her this is just antisocial behaviour, and of course being very clever she knows exactly how and when  to distract me, these are times when a dissmissive pat on the head is just not good enough!

Toffee may not think much of my piano playing but bearing in mind that we try and keep in with the neighbours, perhaps she is doing us all a favour! One thing is certain, dogs need conversation, even one sided, and failing this, the reassurance of the voice they know best, 'the Master's Voice'!

Well I hear that a Canadian firm called Contech Electronics has addressed the issue of the 'home alone' pet whose owner is racked by guilt at leaving them even for an hour. The  product that might make parting with your pet just that bit less truamatic for both of you, is called the ChatterBowl. Yes a talking bowl, or at least a bowl that sounds just like you with the help of a pre-recorded 10 second message of your voice. The bowl has a built in sensor that detects when the pet is within six inches and triggers your special message!  The makers claim that once animals become accustomed to the sensor, they will deliberately set it off just to hear their master's voice! I will look into this ingenious idea and get back with some more facts!

Bye for now

Catrina